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Difficulty: EasyThe Vietnam War and Foreign Policy

“We are there [in Vietnam] because we have a promise to keep. Since 1954 every American President has offered support to the people of South Vietnam. We have helped to defend their independence. And we have done that to keep our word, to prevent the spread of communist dominance...”

— President Lyndon B. Johnson, address at Johns Hopkins University, April 1965

The foreign policy goal described in the excerpt most directly reflects which of the following post–World War II policies?

  1. The containment doctrine, which sought to halt the global expansion of communismAnswer
  2. B
    The Monroe Doctrine, which aimed to establish military alliances in Southeast Asia
  3. C
    The Paris Peace Accords, which immediately withdrew all troops and ended involvement
  4. D
    A policy of absolute isolationism and neutrality in international affairs

Answer

The containment doctrine, which sought to halt the global expansion of communism
The containment doctrine was the guiding framework of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, aiming to prevent the spread of communism to new regions. President Johnson's statement that the U.S. was in Vietnam 'to prevent the spread of communist dominance' directly reflects this containment objective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document and its historical context.
The excerpt is from a 1965 speech by President Lyndon B. Johnson explaining the reasons for the United States' military presence in Vietnam.
Identifying the speaker, date, and main argument helps locate the question within the post-World War II Cold War era.
2
Identify the key foreign policy motivation mentioned in the text.
The text explicitly states the goal is 'to prevent the spread of communist dominance.'
This phrase points directly to the primary geopolitical strategy of the United States during the Cold War.
3
Match the identified goal with the correct historical term/policy.
The policy of stopping the spread of communism is known as containment.
Selecting the policy that aligns with preventing communist expansion leads to the correct choice.

Key Concept

The policy of containment guided United States foreign policy in Asia during the Cold War, leading to military intervention in conflicts like the Vietnam War.
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Topics

The Vietnam War and Foreign Policy

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